Article
Microbiology
Yapeng Zhang, Jinghui Zhang, Jiangming Xiao, Hanyi Wang, Rui Yang, Xinlin Guo, Yuqiang Zheng, Yibing Yin, Xuemei Zhang
Summary: Natural transformation is important for the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria. The study identifies a transcriptional regulator called CcpA that directly regulates comCDE transcription, thereby participating in natural transformation process and being regulated by carbon source signals.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Vitor Oliveira, Marie-Stephanie Aschtgen, Anke van Erp, Birgitta Henriques-Normark, Sandra Muschiol
Summary: The genomic plasticity of Streptococcus pneumoniae relies on its natural genetic transformation ability. ComGG plays a crucial role in competence pilus assembly and function by stabilizing minor pilins and connecting them to the major pilin ComGC.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Fulwah Y. Alqahtani, Fadilah S. Aleanizy, Eram El Tahir, Hessa Alowais, Assalh Binkelaib, Bdour Alwathlan, Asmaa Al-Bdrawy, Anders P. Hakansson, Ibrahim Alsarra
Summary: This study prepared polymeric nanoparticles (CNPs) with wide-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae TIGR4 and its capsular mutant. The CNPs showed concentration-dependent reduction in bacterial hemolysis and were cytocompatible at lower concentrations, suggesting their potential in treating pneumococcal diseases.
Review
Microbiology
Macaulay Winter, Angus Buckling, Klaus Harms, Pal Jarle Johnsen, Michiel Vos
Summary: Natural transformation is a process where bacterial cells actively uptake free DNA and recombine it, potentially playing a more significant role in disseminating resistance genes than commonly recognized in diverse microbiomes and polluted environments.
CURRENT OPINION IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ling-Hui Kong, Zhi-Qiang Xiong, Yong-Jun Xia, Lian-Zhong Ai
Summary: This study developed three electroporation transformation methods for S. thermophilus S-3, optimizing various parameters to enhance the transformation efficiency. Transcriptional analysis showed up-regulation of competence genes after optimization, leading to increased transformation efficiency. Overexpression of the competence gene comEA resulted in a 14-fold increase in transformation efficiency, showing potential for the development of desirable characteristics strains.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Yahan Wei, Luke R. Joyce, Ashley M. Wall, Ziqiang Guan, Kelli L. Palmer
Summary: This study revealed that Streptococcus pneumoniae, S. oralis, and S. mitis produce a Gro-P-linked glycolipid through a PG-dependent, ltaS-independent mechanism. The glycolipid biology of these bacteria features a novel mechanism for glycolipid synthesis. The ltaS gene in S. mitis plays a beneficial role in sensitivity to human serum, although its exact function remains to be defined.
Article
Microbiology
Federico Rosconi, Emily Rudmann, Jien Li, Defne Surujon, Jon Anthony, Matthew Frank, Dakota S. Jones, Charles Rock, Jason W. Rosch, Christopher D. Johnston, Tim van Opijnen
Summary: Pan-genome analysis of clinical pneumococcal strains identified categories of essential genes and demonstrated that gene essentiality can be influenced by genetic background and specific genetic changes. The study revealed that gene essentiality can be affected by various factors and some genes remain crucial for survival with inactivation leading to severe fitness costs.
NATURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ana Rita Narciso, Federico Iovino, Sigrun Thorsdottir, Peter Mellroth, Mario Codemo, Christian Spoerry, Francesco Righetti, Sandra Muschiol, Staffan Normark, Priyanka Nannapaneni, Birgitta Henriques-Normark
Summary: Intranasal immunization with pneumococcal membrane particles (MPs) provides excellent serotype-independent protection against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). The conserved lipoproteins MalX and PrsA are identified as the main antigens responsible for cross-protection. Omitting variable surface proteins and vaccine candidate PspA enhances protective immune responses to the conserved proteins.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tahmina A. Milly, Emilee R. Engler, Kylie S. Chichura, Alec R. Buttner, Bimal Koirala, Yftah Tal-Gan, Michael A. Bertucci
Summary: The study focuses on optimizing the interaction of CSP1 with its transmembrane histidine kinase receptor to weaken pneumococcal infectivity and resistance development. The findings led to the development of potent QS modulators for antimicrobial agents against pneumococcal infections.
Article
Immunology
Lukas Muri, Emma Ispasanie, Anna Schubart, Christine Thorburn, Natasa Zamurovic, Thomas Holbro, Michael Kammueller, Gerd Pluschke
Summary: Two different physiological opsonophagocytosis assay formats yielded consistent results, emphasizing the importance of alternative complement pathway activation for efficient killing in vaccine-naive individuals. In contrast, alternative pathway inhibition did not affect pneumococcal killing in PCV13-vaccinated subjects.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vikrant Minhas, Arnau Domenech, Dimitra Synefiaridou, Daniel Straume, Max Brendel, Gonzalo Cebrero, Xue Liu, Charlotte Costa, Mara Baldry, Jean-Claude Sirard, Camilo Perez, Nicolas Gisch, Sven Hammerschmidt, Leiv Sigve Havarstein, Jan-Willem Veening
Summary: Competence development in Streptococcus pneumoniae controls genetic transformation, biofilm formation, and virulence. During competence, the genes involved in teichoic acid biosynthesis are essential. LytR and ComM play crucial roles in WTA synthesis and immunity against CbpD. Moreover, key virulence factors PspA and PspC become more surface-exposed at midcell during competence, in a CbpD-dependent manner.
Article
Microbiology
Brenda S. S. Antezana, Sarah Lohsen, Xueqing Wu, Jorge E. E. Vidal, Yih-Ling Tzeng, David S. S. Stephens
Summary: Multidrug resistance in Streptococcus pneumoniae remains a global challenge. Tn916-related integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) are responsible for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance in S. pneumoniae. This study found that Tn2009 can be efficiently transferred between S. pneumoniae strains via transformation and homologous recombination in human nasopharyngeal biofilms.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicole R. Rutbeek, Hanieh Rezasoltani, Trushar R. Patel, Mazdak Khajehpour, Gerd Prehna
Summary: Streptococcus pyogenes inhibits its quorum sensing receptor ComR through the phage-encoded Prx protein, affecting its uptake of exogenous DNA. This mechanism is similar to the role of the phage protein Aqs1 in Pseudomonas aeruginosa in inhibiting quorum sensing, demonstrating a convergent evolution between Gram-positive and Gram-negative phages in quorum sensing inhibition.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Virtu Solano-Collado, Sofia Ruiz-Cruz, Fabian Lorenzo-Diaz, Radoslaw Pluta, Manuel Espinosa, Alicia Bravo
Summary: The study reveals the similarity of promoter recognition between SigA in Streptococcus pneumoniae and homologs in E. coli and Bacillus subtilis, showing the versatility of SigA in recognizing promoters from different sources. Results also demonstrate that SigA can direct RNA polymerase to transcribe genes involved in plasmid pMV158 replication and conjugative mobilization, indicating its critical role in the promiscuity of the plasmid.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Myung Whan Oh, Muralikrishna Lella, Shanny Hsuan Kuo, Yftah Tal-Gan, Gee W. Lau
Summary: This study compares the bio-stability, in vitro cytotoxicity, and in vivo toxicity of wild-type CSPs and dominant-negative peptide analogs (dnCSPs), and identifies a peptide analog, CSP1-E1A-cyc(Dap6E10), as a promising therapeutic agent against pneumococcal infection with superior safety and pharmacokinetics profiles.
ACS PHARMACOLOGY & TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE
(2022)